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Players Index Page Last Updated
4 August 2023
 

Jimmy Crabtree

Burnley FC, Aston Villa FC

14 appearances, 0 goals
one penalty missed

P 14 W 9 D 3 L 2 F 55: A 13
75% successful

1894-1902

captain: none
minutes played:
1260

Timeline

  James William Crabtree
Birth Saturday, 23 December 1871 at Sandygate, Burnley, Lancashire
  registered in Burnley January-March 1872.
Baptism Wednesday, 10 January 1872 at St Peter's Church, Burnley by R. Jackson
 

According to the 1881 census, James Wm is the younger of two sons to Joseph and Ellen (née Howerth), living at 8 Healey Wood Road in Habergham Eaves, Burnley. His parents are cotton weavers.

 

According to the 1891 census, James William is living with his parents at 1 River Street in Habergham Eaves, also with one lodger. All of them are cotton weavers.

"A BURNLEY FOOTBALL PLAYER STABBED - Yesterday morning at Burnley, Francis Holgate, weaver, was remanded on a charge of unlawfully wounding James Crabtree, the half-back of the Burnley Football team. Prisoner and another man were fighting in Manchester-road late on Saturday night when Crabtree interfered. Holgate, it is alleged, stabbed him in the breast. Crabtree, who lost a great deal of blood, had his wounds attended to by an ambulance man, and afterwards by a surgeon". - Manchester Courier, 7 November 1893
 

According to the 1901 census, 'John' Crabtree, along with seven other footballers, are visiting Blackpool, for they are staying at the Station Hotel on Talbot Road.

  "James William Crabtree, the famous international football player, and for many years a member of the Aston Villa Football Club, is lying seriously ill at his residence in William Street, Aston." - The Mercury, Friday, 5 June 1908
Death Thursday, 18 June 1908 at his home, 12 Gower Street in Aston, Warwickshire
aged 36 years 173 days registered in Aston April-June 1908.

Obituary

"DEATH OF JAMES CRABTREE.
"The Press Association telegraphs that James Crabtree, the famous Aston Villa footballer, died to-day at his home at Birmingham. Crabtree, who had been ill for some time, was considered by many to be the greatest Association football player of all times, He gained four international appearances and was a member of the Aston Villa team who won the double event―the English Cup and the League Championship―in 1896-7."
 -
The Staffordshire Sentinel, Thursday, 18 June 1908./Nottingham Journal, Friday, 19 June 1908
"DEATH OF JAMES CRABTREE.
"Few better players ever went on a football field than James Crabtree, whose death at Lozells, Birmingham, was announced yesterday. He played in fourteen internationals for England and seven times he represented the English against the Scottish League. He was one of the few men who could play in any position. For his club―Aston Villa―he was generally in the half-back line, and for England in internationals he generally played at the back. But his versatility was tremendous, and he played in five positions on the field in international football. Crabtree was at his best at the time when there was no limit on the amount a player might receive from his club, and he probably drew a higher wage from the Villa than any other player. Although generally identified with the Villa, Crabtree was born in Lancashire, and started his football in the Burnley district."
 - The Daily Mirror, Friday, 19 June 1908
Funeral

Tuesday, 23 June 1908
Aston Parish Church, Birmingham
"FUNERAL OF JAMES CRABTREE
"The remains of the late James William Crabtree, the famous ex-Villa and International footballer, were laid to rest yesterday in Aston Parish Churchyard. Besides members of the family, Mr. George Ramsey, secretary of the Aston Villa Club, and two of the players, H. Hampton and H. Couch, were present at the graveside. J. Devey and G. Grierson, the trainer, who were associated with Crabtree during the most brilliant season also attended. There was a number of beautiful wreaths, among them being tributes from the Aston Villa Club and the Football League." -
The Sportsman, Wednesday, 24 June 1908
Probate "CRABTREE James William of 12 Gower-street Aston Warwickshire died 18 June 1908 Probate London 4 January to Gertrude Bulcock (wife of William Bulcock).
Effects £114." [2023 equivalent: £11,285.18].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career


Club(s)
Began his football career playing with Burnley Royal Swifts FC and the Burnley FC reserves. Joined Rossendale FC in 1890 and Heywood Central FC a year later. It was in 1892 that Crabtree joined Burnley FC establishing himself as a left-back. Transferred to Aston Villa FC for a £200 transfer fee on 20 May 1895, after Everton FC failed to agree terms with Turf Moor club. Villa moved Crabtree to right-half, and although he refused to move positions, he relented, and established himself in that position too. In January 1904, Crabtree joined Plymouth Argyle FC, retiring from playing later that year.

League History
250 appearances, 16 goals
Burnley FC 1888-95 72 appearances, ten goals.
debut: 21 September 1888 Burnley FC 2 Accrington FC 2.
Aston Villa FC 1895-1902 178 appearances, six goals
debut: 2 September 1895 Aston Villa FC 1 West Bromwich Albion FC 0.
last: 12 April 1902 Grimsby Town FC 4 Aston Villa FC 1.
Club honours Football League Champions 1895-96 (28ᵃ 3ᵍ), 1896-97 (25ᵃ), 1898-99 31ᵃ 2ᵍ), 1899-1900 (17ᵃ);
FA Cup winners
1896-97 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Individual honours Football League (nine appearances)

Distinctions
Crabtree's Benefit Match was played between Aston Villa FC and Bury FC on 9 April 1901 at Villa Park. "The official figures show that the attendance was about 5,000 and it is expected that Crabtree will receive about £125 after payment of expenses." - Birmingham Daily Mail, Tuesday, 9 April 1901
Height/Weight 5' 10", 12st. 3lbs [1895].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career

Player number One of three who became the 211th players (212) to appear for England.
Position(s) Half-back, full-back
First match No. 50, 3 March 1894, Ireland 2 England 2, a British Championship match at Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 22 years 70 days.
Last match No. 74, 3 March 1902, Wales 0 England 0, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 30 years 70 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1893-94, 1894-95, 1895-96, 1898-99, 1899-1900, 1900-01, 1901-02;
Team honours British Championship winners 1894-95, 1898-99, 1900-01;
Individual honours The Whites (one appearance, March 1894);
The Professionals (two appearances 1og, March 1895-March 1896, withdrew in 1897)
The North (one appearance, March 1900, withdrew twice, in February 1899 & February 1902)
F
A Tour of Germany 1899;
Distinctions Took and missed England's first ever penalty-kick.

Beyond England

Returned to Aston Villa FC to become a scout. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.77.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes penalty kicks captain
17 14 14 1260 0 1 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
14 9 3 2 55 13 +42 1 7 3.929 0.929 75 +7
all of his matches were British Championship matches

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 6 6 0 0 37 3 +34 0 4 6.167 0.50 100.0 +6
Away 8 3 3 2 18 10 +8 1 3 2.25 1.25 56.3 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1893-94 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC 1894-95 2 2 0 0 12 0 +12 0 2 6.00 0.00 100.0 +2
BC 1895-96 3 2 0 1 12 3 +9 0 1 4.00 1.00 66.7 +1
BC 1896-97 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 =0
BC 1897-98 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 =0
BC 1898-99 3 3 0 0 19 3 +16 0 1 6.333 1.00 100.0 +3
BC 1899-1900 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 0 1 1.333 1.667 50.0 =0
BC 1900-01 1 1 0 0 6 0 +6 0 1 6.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1901-02 1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0.00 0.00 50.0 =0
BC All 14 9 3 2 55 13 +42 1 7 3.929 0.929 75.0 +7

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 14 9 3 2 55 13 +42 1 7 3.929 0.929 75.0 +7
14 9 3 2 55 13 +42 1 7 3.929 0.929 75 +7

Match History

 Club: Burnley F.C. - three full appearances (270 min) F.A. International Select Committee - fourteen full appearances (1260 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22
1 50 3 March 1894 - Ireland 2 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast
BC AD   lh
   

one of three who became the 211th players (212) to appear for England
the second player from Burnley FC to represent England

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 15 March 1894;

52 7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AD withdrawn

Age 23
2 53 9 March 1895 - England 9 Ireland 0
County Ground, Derby
BC HW   rb
   

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 23 March 1895;

3 55 6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool
BC HW   rb

 Club: Aston Villa F.C. - eleven full appearances (990 min)  

Age 24
4 56 7 March 1896 - Ireland 0 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast
BC AW   rh

the tenth player from Aston Villa FC to represent England

5 57 16 March 1896 - Wales 1 England 9
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
BC AW   rb

trial  
one appearance - The Amateurs vs. The Professionals, 25 March 1896;

6 58 4 April 1896 - Scotland 2 England 1
Celtic Park, Glasgow
 
BC AL   lh
   

Age 25 trial  
withdrew - The Amateurs vs. The Professionals, 15 March 1897;

60 29 March 1897 - England 4 Wales 0, Bramall Lane, Sheffield BC HW withdrawn
   

Age 26
64 2 April 1898 - Scotland 1 England 3, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AW reserve
   

Age 27 trial  
withdrew - The South vs. The North, 1 February 1899;

7 65 18 February 1899 - England 13 Ireland 2
Roker Park, Sunderland
BC HW 46 ch

England's first ever penalty kick is also the first kick missed

8 66 20 March 1899 - England 4 Wales 0
Ashton Gate, Bristol
BC HW   ch
9 67 6 April 1899 - England 2 Scotland 1
Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham
BC HW   lb

FA Tour of Germany
23 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 13, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin
tour
AW  
lb
24 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 10, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin AW  
25 November 1899 - Austria 0 England 8, Stadión Letná, Praha AW  
28 November 1899 - Germany 0 England 7, Military Exercise Ground, Karlsruhe AW  

Age 28 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 7 March 1900;

10 68 17 March 1900 - Ireland 0 England 2
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
BC AW   rb
11 69 26 March 1900 - Wales 1 England 1
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
BC AD   rh
12 70 7 April 1900 - Scotland 4 England 1
Celtic Park, Glasgow
BC AL   lb
   

Age 29
13 72 18 March 1901 - England 6 Wales 0
St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
BC HW   rb
   

Age 30 trial  
withdrew - The South vs. The North, 24 February 1902;

14 74 3 March 1902 - Wales 0 England 0
The Racecourse, Wrexham
BC AD   lb
   


     

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